European leaders have pushed back against the U.S.-led Ukraine peace plan, voicing concerns over its potential implications and demanding full European involvement in the negotiations. Paris, Berlin, and Helsinki have collectively signaled their intent to not be excluded from the talks, with a high-ranking European diplomat emphasizing that Europe cannot accept a U.S.-driven agreement without their active participation. The diplomat stressed that the negotiations about Ukraine must involve the Ukrainians themselves and that European security concerns cannot be addressed without European involvement.
This resistance has gained momentum in the wake of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement that the U.S. and Ukraine had made substantial progress on an updated peace framework. Despite acknowledging unresolved issues, Rubio described the meeting as the most productive day in the ongoing discussions, with separate tracks for negotiations involving the EU and NATO. The European official overseeing these talks termed the American plan as a foundation that required further work, with a clear demand for a ceasefire along the lines of contact.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s warning at the G20 summit in South Africa highlighted Europe’s determination not to be sidelined. Merz asserted that wars cannot be ended by major powers without the involvement of the countries affected. He warned that Europe remains far from a satisfactory resolution for all parties. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the U.S. plan had not been negotiated with Europeans, even though it contains provisions directly relevant to the continent. He specifically mentioned the restrictions on Ukraine’s military capacity as a potential infringement on the country’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb reiterated NATO’s role in deciding matters within its jurisdiction, stating that Europe and NATO will manage issues concerning their remit. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, while acknowledging the need for some changes in the U.S. plan, described it as containing constructive elements. He praised Trump’s team for their efforts to resolve the conflict, aiming for a lasting peace in Ukraine as a sovereign nation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reinforced Kyiv’s stance during an address to Sweden’s parliament, rejecting territorial concessions and emphasizing the need for the aggressor to fully pay for the war he started.
Russia’s rejection of the emerging European counter-proposal has been marked by a dismissive stance, with Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov noting that the European ideas were not constructive. This dynamic highlights the complex interplay of geopolitical interests and the challenges in achieving a comprehensive and mutually acceptable peace agreement in Ukraine.